Air Tractor INC AT-502 accident near Grady, Arkansas, June 6, 2025
On June 6, 2025 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1993 Air Tractor INC AT-502, registered N9185F, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Grady, Arkansas (N/A airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2025 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grady, Arkansas · N/A · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-502, built 1993 · all AT-502s on the register
- Registration
- N9185F · registry record · serial 502-0206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 6, 2025, about 1830 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502 airplane, N9185F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Grady, Arkansas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural application flight. The pilot was departing from a 2,300 ft long paved airstrip, oriented about 015°, at the time of the accident. A track in the grass off the right side of the runway began about 300 ft from the end of the pavement and appeared consistent with being made by the airplane tailwheel. The track was oriented about 025°. After about 200 ft, the single track transitioned to three tracks consistent was all three landing gear wheels being on the ground. The tracks were about 200 ft long and ended about 100 ft beyond the end of the runway pavement. They continued along the approximate 025° heading into the adjacent soybean field. The center track was offset to the right relative to the outer two tracks consistent with the tail of the airplane being offset as it traveled through the bean field. An additional set of tracks began again about 50 ft from an irrigation ditch. The irrigation ditch was located about 450 ft from the end of the runway pavement. Figure 1 – Runway with landing gear tracks Figure 2 – Airplane at accident site along irrigation ditch The airplane came to rest inverted on the north side of an irrigation. The outboard left wing was fragmented, and the aft fuselage was partially separated. The engine mount was deformed; however, the engine remained securely attached and appeared undamaged. Engine control continuity was confirmed. Aileron control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit control stick to the left-wing pushrod and to the right aileron. The left aileron was separated and fragmented consistent with the outboard wing damage. Elevator control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit control stick to the elevators. However, the aft elevator pushrod was bent consistent with the fuselage damage. The left rudder cable was separated immediately forward of the rudder control horn. The separation was frayed consistent with an overstress failure. The right rudder cable was continuous from the cockpit rudder pedal to the control horn at the aft fuselage. Further examination of the engine and airframe fuel system are planned. In addition, a Satloc GPS position tracking unit was retained for examination and download.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,344.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 16, 2025; 107.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Farm Brothers Flyers A LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Grady AR at 11:30 pm
- Destination: PVT Grady AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 2,300 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KPBF, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPBF 062253Z AUTO 24006KT 10SM CLR 31/21 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP122 T03110211
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N9185F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN25FA197.